Alabama's reeling from the devastating loss of a Huntsville family. A father and his two daughters tragically perished in a plane crash in Montana's rugged Bob Marshall Wilderness. The Powell County Sheriff’s Office received the initial report of a possible downed plane on Friday afternoon. A search involving air resources from Malmstrom Air Force Base and volunteer aircraft eventually located the wreckage deep within a heavily wooded area near Seeley Lake. Sadly, all three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have identified the victims as Mark Anderson, the pilot, and his daughters, Lainey and Ellie Anderson, all hailing from Huntsville. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are now leading the investigation to determine the cause of this heartbreaking accident. Lainey Anderson was a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI/II) at Sanders Aviation in Jasper. The flight school remembered her as an "exceptional and skilled aviator" and a "beloved flight instructor." They shared that Lainey was an Auburn University Professional Flight program graduate and a member of Alpha Chi Omega. Their statement expressed profound sadness, requesting prayers for Lainey’s mother, Misty, and all of her loved ones. Monte Sano Baptist Church, the family's home church, shared updates during the search and has since expressed deep grief, asking for continued prayers for the Anderson family. The aviation and faith communities in Alabama are offering an outpouring of support. A prayer vigil is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, at 6:30 p.m. at Milton Frank Stadium in Huntsville. Further details about the crash are pending, with a preliminary report from federal investigators expected in the coming weeks.Heartbreak in Huntsville: Family Lost in Montana Plane Crash
Victims Identified
Investigation Underway
A Rising Star Remembered
Community Mourns
Prayer Vigil Planned
